With the feast of Christ the King this Sunday, we officially bid farewell to the Year of Faith. The year began Oct. 11, 2012, and along the way marked the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Those of us within the Church were encouraged to study and increase our knowledge of the Faith, and the Newsweekly has devoted many articles in the last 13 months to spreading this message. Perhaps most notable was a 12-part series on virtues by Russell Shaw.

This week, we wrap up the Year of Faith with the third installment of our Faces of Faith series (Pages 18-19). The three-part feature was aimed at giving a glimpse into the lives of those who labor — often overlooked — in the vineyard of the Lord. Maryann Gogniat Eidemiller focuses on those who support the Church’s teachings on the dignity of life via various pro-life ministries. Previous installments looked at men and women of faith who live and work in rural communities (Nov. 3) and the multitude of ethnic groups that enrich the U.S. Church (Sept. 29).

Accompanying the faith story, a sidebar on Page 18 lists four ways to continue growing in faith as we move forward from the year. One of the suggestions listed is to study and emulate the lives of the saints. I’m happy to announce that OSV Newsweekly made that a little bit easier to do via a special supplement tucked into this week’s issue.

The supplement, a small 48-page booklet, looks specifically at “Saints for Our Time.” Tom Craughwell, well-known author of several books on the saints, highlights 12 holy men and women (one for each month of the year) who are particularly relevant to the lives of Catholics in modern times.

For example, you’ll find a saint for the New Evangelization, for single mothers, for cancer patients and for troubled families. There’s also a saint for athletes, for the environment and even for successful real estate transactions.

It’s our hope that you will be able to keep this booklet as a prayerful and informative reference throughout the year, and that it will help you continue to grow in your understanding and love of the Faith. After all, just because the Year of Faith has come to its official conclusion doesn’t mean the obligation to nurture our faith is complete.

As Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI wrote in Porta Fidei(“The Door of Faith”) when he first proclaimed the Year of Faith on Oct. 11, 2011:

“The ‘door of faith’ is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church. It is possible to cross that threshold when the word of God is proclaimed and the heart allows itself to be shaped by transforming grace.”

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